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Tim Lamb Tim Lamb is offline
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Default Building or repairing a fence within a hedge

In message , Richard
writes
Tim Lamb wrote:


Why are you determined not to prune? Is there an access/disposal
issue? Beech is boys stuff compared with Blackthorn.



Thanks to all.

Yes there are privacy issues - the woodland is public access - AKA used
for dog emptying and while I don't mind the ocasional fox and smaller
visitors I object strongly to dogs coming into my garden to frighten
the cats and to crap!


OK. Fox crap has a pointy end.

I did not want to complicate my OP by discussing pruning. You may have
guessed that the hedge has grown out as a result of neglect and is now
rather open and woody rather than bushy. I have been advised that it
will recover, i.e. become denser and with more fine branches if I cut
one side back beyond the growth point by, say 6", and feed the base of
the hedge with e.g. Growmore. I'm to do this before the new growth
starts, but when than is with the current crazy seasons is anyone's
guess. I can then do the same to the unpruned side on the following
year. I suspect that I will then leave both sides for another year
before hard pruning the first side again.

I have similarly hard pruned another Beech hedge which seems to have
coped, despite erecting a 5' fence against the pruned face - that one
adjoins a neighbour who wanted a 6' CB fence. We compromised with 5'
CB + 1' trellis.


Could you not prune to just above the height of any replacement fence
with a bit spare for working room. Any serious trimming needs to be done
over the next few weeks.

Post holes are likely to be tricky: roots and hard dry soil. Fencing
contractors use a motorised auger which might be available from the hire
shops. I use a tractor mounted borer and clean out with a *shoveholer*
sort of double shovel.

regards

--
Tim Lamb